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Looking to get hold of your Colorado driving record? 

Well, you’ll be happy to know that getting your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) or driving record in Colorado is fairly easy. 

That is if you have a clear idea of how the process works.

This is what we’ll be discussing here. We’re going to give you a complete guide on how to get your driving record in Colorado. 

So, whether you received a court order to submit your Colorado driving record, your employer needs it for a background check, or if you are applying for vehicle insurance, keep on reading to get all the details you need to order your driving record.

What’s in a Colorado Driving Record? 

Your MVR, provided by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (CO DMV), contains your personal information and any additional details regarding special needs, such as the need for corrective lenses or special mirrors. 

More importantly, your driving record contains all your driving activity that has been accumulated for the last seven years. This includes:

  • traffic accidents

  • traffic citations

  • license suspensions or cancellations

  • driving record points

Click here for an example of a Colorado driving record.

What are the Driving Record Types in Colorado?

There are 2 types of driving records in Colorado:

  • The certified driving records

  • The uncertified driving records

Both are updated and maintained by the CO DMV. 

Both types will show all the traffic violations, accidents, and other license activities that you, the subject of the record, have been involved in the last seven years. 

So what’s the difference? 

Certified driving records are verified by the Colorado Motor Vehicle Division and can fulfill legal and official purposes.

Meanwhile, uncertified driving records are usually requested for personal use. Most drivers who just want to keep tabs on their records get this type of MVR.

What are the Types of Driving Record Requests in Colorado?

There are 3 types of driving record requests that can be made in Colorado:

  • Self-Request

  • Private Investigator Request

  • Attorney Request

A Self-Request is for your own driving record, while a Private Investigator and Attorney Request is for requests made for the driving record of another individual.

For the latter 2, you’ll need to attach the DR 2489 or the DR 2559 form in your request.

Colorado’s privacy laws do not allow you to order a driving record of another person without that person's permission. But if you are requesting a record as an employer or because of a pending court case, you may be permitted to receive the record based upon the criteria of the Driver Record Search Requestor Release.

How Do You Order Your Driving Record in Colorado? 

There are 3 ways for you to obtain your driving record in Colorado: 

  • In-person

  • By mail

  • Online

The driving record fee for a non-certified driving record is just around $2.20, while the certified copy will cost a little higher at $2.70. 

Note: the Colorado DMV usually accepts a personal check or money order made payable to The Colorado Department of Revenue. They do NOT accept credit cards.

How to Order In Person

If you have the time, and you don’t mind falling in line at the local DMV, you can order your driving record personally. 

Just head to the nearest Driver’s License Office and bring your documents to get a non-certified copy of your driving record. The documents you need are: 

  • Your driver’s license

  • Social Security Number

  • Vehicle registration documents

  • Payment fee

Note: If you need a certified copy, you should go straight to their Lakewood branch located at 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO.

How to Order by Mail

You might find ordering by mail more convenient than in person. 

To do that, you just need to send in a written request to obtain a mail-order copy of your driving record. 

Unlike other states, the Colorado DMV does not have a specific form that you have to fill out. Instead, you need to write an actual letter addressed to The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles and provide the details of your request. You may want to include the following information:

  • Full name

  • Date of birth

  • Driver’s license number

Don’t forget to specify if you are requesting a certified or non-certified copy of your records. Also, make sure you sign the letter and include a check or money order made payable to the Colorado Department of Revenue. 

For a certified copy, send your letter to:

Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles

Driver Control Section at 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214

For an uncertified copy, send it to: 

Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles

Driver Control Section, Denver, CO 80261-0016

Depending on your location, the processing of your order can take 10 to 14 business days after they receive your request.

How to Order Online

If you want a quick and easy process of obtaining your driving record in Colorado, you can do it online! This will take you around 5-10 minutes to complete. 

Submit a request by visiting the Colorado DMV website. Prepare your credit card information, your driver’s license, and a valid email address.

You will also be asked to provide the following:

  • Date of birth.

  • Driver's license number 

  • Signature

  • A photocopy of your photo ID with your signature

Uncertified driving records will be sent to your email address as soon as it has been processed. But certified copies will have to be sent via postal mail.

What To Do With Your Colorado Driving Record?

Once you receive your driving record, you should verify if the information on your record is accurate. 

Although Colorado driving records are always precise, there is still a slim chance that you may find an error on your MVR. 

You can start by checking your personal information. If there are any changes to your address or last name, make sure that it has already been updated on your record.

Then you can check your violations and your accumulated points to ensure that there are no erroneous records added in. 

Report the Error

Should you find any inaccurate information on your record, immediately reach out to the Colorado DMV to sort things out. You can call them at (303) 205-5600 or at TDD (303) 205-5940.

Meanwhile, if you find demerit points piling up, you might want to clear the points on your driving record. This can help you get a lower auto insurance rate, and if you’re applying for a job that requires driving, a clean record can improve your chances of getting hired. 

What are the Driving Record Points in Colorado?

To help you validate the accuracy of the points on your record, here’s a list of some Colorado traffic infractions and their corresponding demerit points:

TYPE OF VIOLATION

POINT VALUE

DUI (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol)

12

DUI per se (driving with a BAC of .08% or higher)

12

Speeding 40 mph or more over the limit

12

Leaving the scene of an accident

12

Speed contests

12

Evading/eluding an officer

12

DWAI (driving while ability impaired)

8

Reckless driving

8

Speeding 20 mph to 39 mph over the limit

6

Failure to stop for a school bus

6

Speeding 10 mph to 19 mph over the limit

4

Careless driving

4

UDD (underage drinking and driving)

4

Failure to show or maintain proof of insurance

4

Improper passing

4

Failure to yield to emergency vehicle

4

Failure to observe traffic sign or signal

4

Driving on the wrong side of the road

4

Careless driving

4

Driving through safety zone

3

Improper turn

3

Driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street

3

Failure to yield right of way

3

Operating an unsafe vehicle

2

Failure to dim, or turn the  lights on

2

Improper backing

2

Improper signal/failure to signal

2

Speeding 5 mph to 9 mph over the limit

1

Source: https://www.coloradoduiattorneys.com

Every violation and its corresponding point value appear on your record.

If you’ve accumulated many demerits points in your driving record for moving violations, your driver’s license may be suspended for 6 months to a year. 

However, the number of driver’s license points at which the Colorado DMV will suspend your driving privileges will depend on your age and whether you are a professional driver.

Let’s have a look at how many points suspends a license. 

Adult drivers (21 years old above):

  • 12 points within 12 months

  • 18 points within 24 months

Minor drivers (18 to 20 years old):

  • 9 points within 12 months

  • 12 points within 24 months

  • 14 points accumulated between 18 to 21 years old

Minor drivers (under 18):

  • 6 points within 12 months

  • 7 points before 18 years old

Chauffeur Points (for those employed as professional drivers), including taxi cab drivers and traditional chauffeurs:

  • 16 points within 12 months

  • 24 points within 24 months

  • 28 points within 48 months

How to Avoid Points on Your Colorado Driving Record?

The state of Colorado does not have a statewide program for dismissing traffic tickets by completing a defensive driving course. 

However, if you received court permission to attend Colorado traffic school, you may:

  • Get your fine waived or reduced

  • Get your ticket dismissed (helps you avoid point accumulation)

  • Reinstate a suspended license

  • Get a reduction in your auto insurance cost

Now, if you decide to take this course, here are some of our recommended schools approved in different courts in Colorado.

iDriveSafely’s online traffic school in Colorado is approved by several individual courts throughout the state (check the website for the list of courts). 

How to Get Your Driving Record in Colorado iDriveSafely

They are one of the most trusted online traffic schools nationwide. Their course is easy to complete and straightforward. Despite that, it includes animated 3D video clips and interactive graphics to make lessons less boring.

You’ll be able to finish their courses in no time!


Conclusion

If you want to order your driving record in Colorado, the process is really easy.

Here’s a quick recap of how you can do this:

  • Order it in person by heading to the nearest Driver’s License Office with your documents (go to their Lakewood Office if you need a certified copy).
  • Order it through the mail by writing a letter addressed to The Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles and provide the details of your request, along with your payment. For a certified copy, send your letter to the Lakewood Office. For a non-certified copy, send it to the Driver Control Section in Denver.
  • Order it online from the Colorado DMV website - just provide the information required,  your driver’s license, a valid email address, and pay the fee through a credit card.

That’s it!

Easy, right?

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